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Solar PV Analysis of Mareeba, Australia
Mareeba, Queensland, Australia is a great place for solar energy production all year round due to its tropical climate. The sunlight is consistent throughout most of the year and the seasons are mainly characterized by wet and dry periods.
The amount of energy that can be generated from solar panels changes slightly with the seasons. In summer, you can expect about 6.14 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity. This decreases slightly in autumn to about 5.29 kWh/day per kW, then further drops to around 4.75 kWh/day per kW in winter before rising again in spring to approximately 6.93 kWh/day per kW.
Given these figures, it's clear that spring and summer are the best times for generating solar power at this location because these seasons have more sunlight hours and higher sun intensity compared to autumn and winter.
If you're installing fixed panel installations at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 15 degrees towards the north would maximize their exposure to sunlight throughout the year thereby maximizing total annual solar production.
As far as environmental or local factors that could affect solar production in Mareeba go; there might be some concerns during wet season when heavy rainfall or cloud cover may limit sun exposure on panels reducing their efficiency temporarily but overall impact over a whole year should not be significant given high sunshine hours rest of the time.
To deal with such weather-related issues one could consider using advanced PV modules which perform better under low light conditions or incorporating energy storage solutions like batteries which can store excess power produced during peak hours/days for use during cloudy/rainy days thus ensuring consistent power supply from your system even on less sunny days.
Another factor could be any potential shading from nearby structures or trees especially if they're southward facing but this can typically be addressed by proper site assessment before installation and ensuring there's no obstruction to direct sunlight on panels during peak sun hours.
In summary, Mareeba offers a favorable environment for solar energy production with high potential output especially in spring and summer. A few manageable challenges might exist but with proper planning and technology, they can be mitigated.
Note: The Tropics are located between 23.5° North and -23.5° South of the equator.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 501 locations across Australia. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Australia by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Mareeba
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -16.9973592, Longitude: 145.423065 (Mareeba, Australia), based on our analysis of 8760 hourly intervals of solar and meteorological data (one whole year) retrieved for that set of coordinates/location from NASA POWER (The Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources) API:
Ideally tilt fixed solar panels 15° North in Mareeba, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Mareeba, Australia (Lat/Long -16.9973592, 145.423065) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 15° North for fixed panel installations.
As the Earth revolves around the Sun each year, the maximum angle of elevation of the Sun varies by +/- 23.45 degrees from its equinox elevation angle for a particular latitude. Finding the exact optimal angle to maximise solar PV production throughout the year can be challenging, but with careful consideration of historical solar energy and meteorological data for a certain location, it can be done precisely.
We use our own calculation, which incorporates NASA solar and meteorological data for the exact Lat/Long coordinates, to determine the ideal tilt angle of a solar panel that will yield maximum annual solar output. We calculate the optimal angle for each day of the year, taking into account its contribution to the yearly total PV potential at that specific location.
Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Mareeba, Australia
If you can adjust the tilt angle of your solar PV panels, please refer to the seasonal tilt angles below for optimal solar energy production in Mareeba, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 15° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1° North in Summer | 23° North in Autumn | 32° North in Winter | 10° North in Spring |
Our recommendations take into account more than just latitude and Earth's position in its elliptical orbit around the Sun. We also incorporate historical solar and meteorological data from NASA's Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) API to assign a weight to each ideal angle for each day based on its historical contribution to overall solar PV potential during a specific season.
This approach allows us to provide much more accurate recommendations than relying solely on latitude, as it considers unique weather conditions in different locations sharing the same latitude worldwide.
Calculate solar panel row spacing in Mareeba, Australia
We've added a feature to calculate minimum solar panel row spacing by location. Enter your panel size and orientation below to get the minimum spacing in Mareeba, Australia.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - Minimum Spacing:
We add the shadow length to the horizontal space occupied by tilted panels.
This approach ensures maximum space efficiency while avoiding shading during critical times, as the Winter solstice represents the worst-case scenario for shadow length.
Topography for solar PV around Mareeba, Australia
Mareeba, Australia is located in the region known as the Atherton Tablelands in Northern Queensland. The topography around Mareeba is characterized by flat to gently rolling hills with some steeper mountainous areas nearby. The area is known for its fertile soils and agricultural productivity.
The climate of Mareeba is tropical with a dry season from May to October and a wet season from November to April. It receives an average of 300 sunny days per year, making it one of the sunniest places in Australia.
Given its high solar irradiation and relatively flat topography, large areas around Mareeba would be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. These could potentially include agricultural lands that are not currently under cultivation or other open spaces. However, any specific locations would need to be evaluated for factors such as land ownership, proximity to electrical grid infrastructure, potential environmental impacts, and other considerations.
In fact, there are already several solar farms operating or under development in this region including the Mount Emerald Solar Farm just west of Mareeba which demonstrates the suitability of this area for solar energy production.
Australia solar PV Stats as a country
Australia ranks 7th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 19,076 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 10.70% of Australia's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 2nd in the world). Each year Australia is generating 742 Watts from solar PV per capita (Australia ranks 2nd in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Australia?
Yes, there are a variety of incentives available in Australia to businesses wanting to install solar energy. These include:
1. Renewable Energy Target (RET): The RET provides businesses with financial assistance for installing and operating renewable energy systems such as solar panels. Businesses may be eligible to receive certificates that can be sold or traded on the open market for additional income.
2. Feed-in Tariffs: Some states offer feed-in tariffs which pay businesses for generating and exporting excess electricity from their solar panel system back into the grid during peak demand periods.
3. Solar Credits: The Solar Credits program provides households and small business owners with an upfront discount when purchasing a new solar system, based on the amount of renewable energy generated by the system over its lifetime.
4. Tax Breaks: Small business owners may be able to claim tax deductions on certain expenses associated with installing a solar power system, including installation costs, maintenance expenses and interest payments related to financing arrangements taken out specifically for this purpose.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Australia? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Saturday 17th of February 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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Compare this location to others worldwide for solar PV potential
The solar PV analyses available on our website, including this one, are offered as a free service to the global community. Our aim is to provide education and aid informed decision-making regarding solar PV installations.
However, please note that these analyses are general guidance and may not meet specific project requirements. For in-depth, tailored forecasts and analysis crucial for feasibility studies or when pursuing maximum ROI from your solar projects, feel free to contact us; we offer comprehensive consulting services expressly for this purpose.
Helping you assess viability of solar PV for your site
Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide
Enhance your solar panel's performance with our in-depth guide. Determine the best tilt angle using hard data, debunk common misunderstandings, and gain insight into how your specific location affects solar energy production.
